ELGIN — Everything is looking up for Coach Doug Jones and the Wolfpack wrestling team.
Numbers are up this year. Last year, Coach Jones went into most tournaments with just four wrestlers.
This year, seven wrestlers are competing on the mats for Elgin Public-Pope John.
“We have more out this year which makes practices more competitive,” Jones said last week.
“I hope the aggressiveness in the practice room translates to a successful season.”
Of the four wrestlers who competed last year, two qualified for the state wrestling tournament. Brett Kinney and Andrew Fangman won matches at state last year. Kinney graduated, but Fangman returns for his junior year as one of the best wrestlers in the area.
Last year Fangman posted a 32-15 record including 23 pins, numbers which he hopes to improve upon this year.
He won’t be the only state qualifier on this year’s team. Ryan Pelster, who qualified for state as a freshman, returns to the mats again.
A junior, Pelster was sidelined last year with an injury, he will seek to regain the form exhibited two years ago.
Letterwinner Geoffrey Carr returns for another season. Again, there’s good reason to believe with a year’s experience, he should fare better in matches. So, too, should Brody Hupp who saw extensive action last year.
Joining those four on the mats will be Taven Cameron, Rider Short and Logan Henn, all seeking to make their mark as Wolfpack wrestlers.
The Wolfpack begin the season on Saturday at the Howells Invite. Their only home tournament will be the Pope John Invitational to be held on December 20.
“We have made our schedule tougher this year and we hope we will see rewards from that when districts and state arrive,” Coach Jones said.
